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Bel Fuse Inc. Stock Upgraded (BELFB)

NEW YORK (
TheStreet)
-- Bel Fuse (Nasdaq:
BELFB) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in net income, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Communications Equipment industry. The net income increased by 354.9% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from -$0.57 million to $1.46 million.

BELFB has no debt to speak of therefore resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of zero, which we consider to be a relatively favorable sign.

BEL FUSE INC reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, BEL FUSE INC reported lower earnings of $0.33 versus $1.16 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.56 versus $0.33).

BELFB, with its decline in revenue, underperformed when compared the industry average of 20.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 7.5%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share.

In its most recent trading session, BELFB has closed at a price level that was not very different from its closing price of one year earlier. This is probably due to its weak earnings growth as well as other mixed factors. Despite the stock's decline during the last year, it is still somewhat more expensive (in proportion to its earnings over the last year) than most other stocks in its industry. We feel, however, that other strengths this company displays offset this slight negative.

Bel Fuse Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells electronic components and modules used in the networking, telecommunication, high-speed data transmission, commercial aerospace, military, transportation, and consumer electronic industries worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 147.5, above the average electronics industry P/E ratio of 93.2 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Bel Fuse has a market cap of $170.4 million and is part of the
technology sector and
electronics industry. Shares are down 3.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.